RUTGERS: Greene helps Scarlet Knights stay perfect

The Rutgers mascot cheers with fans during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse at High Points Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, N.J., Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012. Rutgers won 23-15. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

PISCATAWAY — Rutgers entered yesterday’s game against Syracuse defending two streaks that extended back to last year’s New Era Pinstripe Bowl.

Sophomore running back Jawan Jamison had rushed for 100 yards in the last six games, and the Scarlet Knights’ defense prevented every offense from rushing for 100 yards.

But Syracuse was more interested in snapping another streak at High Point Solutions Stadium: Rutgers’ undefeated run.

Even though Jamison rushed for only 64 yards, Rutgers still held onto the 23-15 victory.

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The Rutgers defense extended its streak, but it needed plenty of help from the pass defense.

Khaseem Greene has been the stalwart of the No. 20 Knights’ (6-0, 3-0) run defense and a leader of the linebackers, but the former safety acted like a defensive back and a defensive end in his career game.

The Avon Old Farms product ended the day with 14 tackles, two forced fumbles, an interception and 1.5 sacks.

“Certainly an All-American, player of the year-type performance,” said head coach Kyle Flood, “which is what he can do for us and has done in the past.”

He channeled his inner safety when he intercepted a pass from Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib with 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

“I actually think I read quarterbacks pretty well, and that’s one of the things that allowed me to catch the interception today,” Greene said.

Greene made the first of two Rutgers interceptions in the final quarter, but his was not the game-saving pick.

Senior cornerback Brandon Jones took in his team-leading third interception of the season within the final 90 seconds to prevent a Syracuse (2-4, 0-2) comeback when Rutgers led by only one possession.

Syracuse targeted receivers near Jones on third down throughout the game, but Jones did not allow the drive to move past one play.

“That stuff makes you frustrated, but as a cornerback, you got to have a short-term memory and move on to the next play,” Jones said.

Syracuse contested Rutgers by tying it at the half.

Rutgers got off to a 7-0 lead partly by winning on third downs, beginning the game by converting 2of4 and stopping the Orange on their first three attempts.

Then Syracuse converted its next three chances, and they were all on the same drive and all within 60 yards of Rutgers’ endzone.

Syracuse slowed down its no-huddle offense, taking five minutes on the drive, but it only took three sets of downs for the Orange to get to Rutgers’ 1-yard line.

Then running back Adonis Ameen-Moore did more damagewith the touchdown that brought it to 7-7.

The Knights previously prevented Syracuse from converting on third downs through impenetrable second-down defense.

Greene brought Syracuse from second-and-7 to third-and-28 with a sack that forced a Nassib fumble on the first play in the second quarter, which forced Syracuse kicker Ross Krautman into a 50-yard field goal attempt, which he missed.

“Every time I get the opportunity where the tackle gets secured by somebody else, I’m coming after that ball.”

Senior defensive end Ka’Lial Glaud made an 11-yard sack to put Syracuse at third-and-26.

The effort against Syracuse and the Knights’ play all season has Flood believing Rutgers has something more than other undefeated teams.

“I think there’s other teams around the country that have talented players and good coaches, but this team — maybe because of some of the things that have happened in the past, some of the times where we’ve been close to what we wanted — ultimately, it’s gotten away from us.”